Pulse-ing while going uphill

My 2005 Tundra had been sitting for 5-10 years up until late 2024 with very minimal use. Late 24, my job situation changed and the Tundra has now been put back into service as my daily driver.

120k miles and I haven't had to do too much to it over the years.

I recently took it on a road trip, 2k miles total. While on cruise control doing 73mph and going uphill I began noticing what I'm going to describe as "pulsing" I then also noticed it if I was accelerating at ~2/3 throttle from a red light.

The symptoms tell me to change the fuel filter. However, after reading on this forum, it seems the 05's don't have a fuel filter. is this true? no fuel filter seems strange to me???

So my next question: What else might be causing this "pulse-ing"

I'll describe the pulse-ing as the engine starving for fuel, it recovers and then occurs again and again while under load (uphill or significant acceleration)

thanks,
Greg

 

I’d suspect the trans. Any codes?

 

nope, no codes. I was thinking that too, but it really seems to be starved for fuel.

hope its not the tranny, sure thats not a cheap fix

 

It's really hard to help you when you don't give us any information about the truck. I mean great, it's a 2005 Tundra. That doesn't tell us shit. These trucks were made with V6, V8, auto trans, manual trans, AC, DC RCLB. This is all important information. If you put all of that here>>

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We wouldn't need to ask.

 

My bad, I thought they were pretty much all V8s.

This is a V8 (4.7L), automatic transmission (has an overdrive button on the end of the shifter handle), SR5 double cab. not sure what else would be helpful

 

How are the spark plugs? Bad gas? I'd run some fuel cleaner through it and see if that helps.

 

You absolutely do have a fuel filter. It's going to be on the left side frame rail. Due to it sitting so long, this would be a good place to start.

 

Don’t believe the 05 has them. Only the in tank sock filter.


And also, it’s never the fuel filter!!!!!!

 

Which is still a filter. Wasn't aware that the '05 didn't have traditional fuel filters. Again, because it sat for so long, would you not suspect varnish and gumming?

 

I would drain and fill the tank if it had a significant amount of old gas in it. Could have water in the fuel also. I would change the plugs. I would clean the MAF, TB and install a new air filter. I would check all of the vacuum hoses for cracks and splits. Fuel filter would be a distant thought compared to all of those. It’s also been sitting long enough to need a new timing belt. So I would address that also.

 

Also time to replace timing belt

 

I had a similar issue. It was the center support bearing.

The problem vexed me for months and seemed to only happen at higher load part throttle situations. Would almost feel like throttle surging or the transmission trying to find a gear.

Watched throttle position vs demand graphs on OBD scanner, A/F ratios, O2 sensor voltages, trans temps, spark advance maps, you name it.

My center support bearing had seized in the rubber. Frozen bearing spinning in stationary rubber. Drive shaft was working overtime trying to spin steel in rubber and the surging was the moment of drive shaft angle of deflection vs it straightening during torque application.

After a drive get under your truck and try to rock the drive shaft side to side around the bearing. If you're seeing more than 1/4-3/8" of movement or if the center support bearing feels hot, you may have the same issue.

 

The 2005+ don’t have a fuel filter.

Read more about your truck: https://www.tundras.com/threads/so-you-wanna-buy-just-bought-a-1st-gen-tundra-eh.115928/

All Double Cab (DC) are V8. Plenty of Access Cab (AC) and Regular Cab (RC) are V6. These trucks are setup and wired differently based on cabs, bed type (AC has step side option), and engine/drivetrain type.

Other info that’s important is 2WD vs 4WD.

If the timing belt hasn’t been done, it’s grossly overdue in a negligent way. Pulleys and water pump should be done at same time. Use the Aisin kit from a legitimate source (not fleaBay or scAmazon, the counterfeit parts kings). If the timing belt has been done, you need to verify the crank position wire got routed properly and isn’t getting its harness nicked. It will cause the fuel pump to clip on/off.